Jermaine Jackson, co-lead singer of
global music brand, Jackson 5 and elder brother of late king of pop,
Michael Jackson on Friday confirmed readiness to participate at the
star-studded Jazz concert being put together by the Lagos State
Government in commemoration of the 2016 International Jazz Day.
The concert, which is to be hosted by
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, will hold at the Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja
on Saturday, April 30 by 5pm.
Jermaine, who confirmed his readiness to
participate at the festival during a press conference held at the Lagos
State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, said he would be at
the festival to support the government and array of international and
local artists who would be performing.
Jermaine, who is in Nigeria as part of
activities marking the Jackson Golden Africa Tour, also disclosed plans
by the Jackson 5 to establish a music academy in Nigeria to nurture and
prepare the talents in Africa for global market.
He said: “It’s been 50 years for the
Jacksons and we are bringing a team together of people who can produce a
concert. I like coming here because I have a lot of questions. I was
just in China and I learnt that the first dynasty that started in China
came from Africa here and I had a professor in China to tell me this.
That made me very proud and the world needs to know this because in our
history books in America, they don’t put this there; they don’t want us
to know this but when you travel and you have the opportunity to see
things for yourself, you will realize that the history books were
written by someone else and it is their version and their interpretation
of what happened which is usually not the truth.”
“We are going to give you nice
compilation of songs that you know and I am just very honoured to be
here because we have been kept away from you because of the politics and
we are not interested in such politics because we are people who care
about people. We need to have a closer relationship with
African-American and the rest of Africa because we have been separated
for long and we can reach out to do other things.
“There are lots of great talents here and
we want to use our 50 years experience of being in the business to
teach the arts. We have in our plans to establish Jackson Academy
Performing Art School and the school will have a curriculum and also
will teach music, directing, film, lightening, producing, dancing and so
on. We want to get the talents here ready for the global market and I
do believe that the drums and the beat started from here,” Jermaine
said.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Information
and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, who received Jermaine and his
entourage alongside the Special Adviser to the Governor on Oversees
Affairs and Investment, Professor Ademola Abass and other senior
officials of the Ministry, expressed delight to receive the visitors to
the state.
Credit: Akinwunmiambode.com
No comments:
Post a Comment